The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-05

II
liorste the condition OF the working
class, the foundation for many oil
who,e copplaints Is openly acknogl-
edged. And the political parties, lar
from looking upon them as enemies OF
the country We with esch other TO
obtain for them the rights they are
clear y EMIT ed 10, for 1t is fact well
known that the poor toilers have no
inclinAtion 10 resist or break the laws
OF the lind, but simply to obtain
equitable legislation by constitutional
and legitimate means. And those
considerations which show that the
organization does not con-
tain any OF the elements which
the Holy Sea condemns bring
us face 10 face with the evils the s.
ciety is combating aud the real nature
OF the cotaict. There exist in our
country, as In all others, social griev-
| ances which ere grave and menscing;
public iDjustices which alike require
firm resistance and legal remedies, all
OF which none would gainsay, and
the truth OF which has already bten
admitted by Congress and the Presi-
dent OF the United States. Without
entering into the psiuful details OF
those vrnngs-the present occasion
not requ ring lit will suffice TO men.
ton the fact that
MoEoPoLIRs,
not only by dividuals, but corpora
tons also, have already excits1 COM
plants from the workingman and OPP
position from public men and rational
legisla o o rs we'll; that the efforts OF
those monopolists-not always unsuc
cessful--to ntrol legislation for their
own profit cause good deal OF anxiety
to the disinterest ID friends OF liberty
that their hesrtess svarice, which, 10
increase their revenues, ruthless y
brushes not only the workinpmsn rep
resentiDg the various trades, bnt even
the women aud the young children In
their employ, makes II plain to all
who love humanity end justice that
not only the workingman has right
to oTgsaiAe for his own protection, but
that 1t is the duty Of the pubic at
large TO aid them In finding remedy
against the dangers with which civil.
xation and the social order are men,
aoed by
AvAEsE, OPPRESSION AND CORRUPTION.
No one could truthfully deny the
existence Of these evils, the right OF
Legitimate resistance, and the necessity
for q remedy. The most that we could
do would be to doubt the legitimacy
VI the means OF resistance employed
aud Of the remedies applied by the
-. a.. II II IL fall
then, will be the next point Of our ex-
animation: 8 IL can scarcely be
doubled that this forming OF associa-
tions and organisations OF the p rites
Interested Ia the best means of attain
ing public object Of any kind-the
most natural and efficacious. This is
30 evident, and, besides, so mu h In
scot I'd with the spirit Of our country
and Of society in general, 30 essential
ly popular, that We need not dwell
a GA the fact. 1t 10, we might say,
the only means by which pablo at
tention can be attracted toward the
end desired to be attained, by which
force can be given to the most legiii-
mate resistance, weight to the most
Just demands. There exists an organiEa-
ton which presents q Thousand at
fractions. q thousand advantages, but
which our Catholic toilers with filial
submission refuse to accept. II is the
Masonic orgsniz ition, which epreads
all over our country, which, as Mr..
Powderly explicitly said, unites the
employer and employe In fraternity
which is very advantageous to the lat
t'r, but which has scarcely one Oath
olic In its ranks.
THE CARDINAL
then rings some changes on the favor
ite Catholic theme, the danger Of the
Masonic brotherhood, and Dext he
posses 10 point which will appeal
more directly to the average feeling of
Americans. He makes q stirring sp-
peal 10 the church to beware of getting
herself branded as "Un.Amefic IN"
and In terms which, even through the
mperfeCt medium Of Indifferent
FieLch, are eloquent, reminds the
Propaganda that the greatest aud
graDde4t title of tho church to the
affection, love and devotion Of Ameri-
cans lies in h,r being, above all things,
Hthe friend of the people," Various
consider Iions, more or lees Of eccleei-
sstic4l interest, tollow-eome q tr. a,
redundant-and then the Cardinal
closes:
TO sBM UP:
II seems to me plain that the holy
See cannot enter tain the proposal to
condemn the association.
1. Because each a condemnation
does not sppear to lie justified either
by the latter or spirit Of its constitu-
ton, Of Its laws, or by the declarations
of its leaders.
3. Thai such q condemnation does
net appear necessary In view Of the
transient form Of the orgauEltio and
| OF the social condition OF the United
States.
8 That IL would not be prudent on
account Of the reality of the wrongs
of the workingmen, and the fac that
the existence Of such Is allowed by
the American public.
4. That it would be danger Jus to
the reputat on OF the church in our
Democratic country.
6. Nat 1t would be powsrless to
compel the obedience OF our Catholic
woi kingmsn, who would regard 1t a.
false and Ubiquitous.
Q That IL would be destructive rs
well, instead OF beneficial in its eff cts,
forcing the sons of the church 10 rebel
agsinst their mother, and to range
themselves with condemned societies
which they have hitherto av oided.
7. That 1t would be ruinous to the
financial support Of the church and TO
the raising Of Peters p snce. !.
6 That 1t would tuin into doubt
and hostility the marked devotion of
our people toward the Holy See.
Q. That il would be regarded as q
cruel blow to the authority OF the
Bishops OF the United States, who, il is
well known, protest against such a
condemnation. -....h8 "a,
trust that the considerations here
presented have shown sufficiently
clearly that such would be the results
Of the condemnation of the Knights OF
| Lahnr NJ Aha Unitad kkataa Thapp.